Get the impression everything can give you cancer? Here's the full list of 116 cancer-causing substances and activities

By Valerie Edwards

Get the impression everything can give you cancer? Here's the full list of 116 cancer-causing substances and activities

BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

In case you were wondering what else causes cancer aside from bacon, ham and sausage, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has listed the 116 substances and activities that are considered to cause the disease.

Smoking tops the IARC list at number one. More than four in five lung cancer deaths, are caused by tobacco smoking

In case you were wondering what else causes cancer aside from bacon, ham and sausage, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has listed the 116 substances and activities that are considered to cause the disease.

The IARC is an organisation that collects and publishes cancer figures worldwide. This list is grouped into three categories: exposure circumstances, mixtures and agents.

Carcinogenic exposure circumstances (Group One)

2. Sunlamps and sunbeds: Many tanning beds give out greater doses of UV rays than the midday tropical sun increasing your risk of developing skin cancer and premature skin ageing. People who are frequently exposed to UV rays before the age of 25 are at greater risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

3. Aluminium production: Workers exposed to fumes in aluminum production plants increase their risks of developing lung cancer and in some cases bladder cancer.

4.Arsenic in drinking water: The toxic chemical can get into drinking water, particularly ground water. Arsenic is known to cause skin, liver, lung, kidney and urinary bladder cancer.

5.Auramine production: Men who manufacture auramine increase their risk of bladder tumours through inhaling chemicals such as formaldehyde, ammonium chloride and sulphur.

6. Boot and shoe manufacture and repair: A high risk to nasal cancer was found for people who worked in the dustiest operations, and for those classified into the category of 'heavy' exposure to leather dust. Exposure for nasal cancer also depends on the duration and level of exposure.

7. Chimney sweeping: Sweeps are exposed to a number of dangerous substances and chemicals during their work, including carbon; carcinogenic metals like arsenic, nickel, and chromium; toxic minerals such as asbestos, found in old fireplace mortar and firebricks; and products of fossil fuel combustion, which increase their risks of cancer scroti and mesothelioma.

8.Coal gasification: People employed in the coal gasification industry may face an increased risk of developing lung cancer due to exposure to carcinogens such as coal tar and coal-tar fumes. The risk may vary depending on the duration and level of exposure as well as the nature of the exposure.

9. Coal tar distillation: Distillers face an increased risk for skin cancer. Derived from coal, coal-tar pitch is a thick black liquid that remains after the distillation of coal tar. Coal tar is used as a base for coatings and paint, in roofing and paving.

11. Furniture and cabinet making: Research suggests that working in furniture or cabinet making can increase your risk of developing cancers in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses because of the exposure to wood dust and other chemicals.

12. Haematite mining (underground) with exposure to radon: People employed in the hematite and uranium mining industry may face an increased risk of developing cancer due to exposure to suspected carcinogens such as radon and silica, which can cause a large increase in the risk of lung cancer.

13. Secondhand smoke: The combination of “sidestream” smoke - the smoke given off by a burning tobacco product. More than 7,000 chemicals have been identified in secondhand tobacco smoke, at least 250 are known to be harmful and at least 69 of the toxic chemicals in secondhand tobacco smoke cause cancer. It may cause breast cancer, nasal sinus cavity cancer and nasopharyngeal cancer in adults and the risk of leukemia, lymphoma and brain tumors in children.

14. Iron and steel founding: Studies show that workers in various parts of the world have a significantly increased risk for lung cancer because of the substantial exposures to silica and carbon monoxide in many foundries.

15. Isopropanol manufacture (strong-acid process): According to research by the IARC, people in this industry may face an increased risk of developing cancer of the paranasal sinuses and the risk for laryngeal cancer may also occur.

16. Magenta dye manufacturing: Working in production of auramine or magenta dyes, and exposure to 4-Aminobiphenyl, benzidine, 2-Naphthylamine or ortho-Toluidine (chemicals used in dye production), are classified by IARC as causes of bladder cancer.

17. Occupational exposure as a painter: Some exposures in paint-related occupations, most notably wood varnishes and stains, increase the risk of lung cancer.

18. Paving and roofing with coal-tar pitch: Paving with coal-tar pitch may contain many chemical compounds, including carcinogens such as benzene causing skin cancer and other types of cancer, including lung, bladder, kidney and digestive tract cancer.

19. Rubber industry: Studies show that excess risks of bladder cancer, lung cancer, and leukaemia were found in most workers. A moderate excess risk for laryngeal cancer was also found along with excess risks for cancers of the oesophagus, stomach, colon, liver, pancreas, skin, prostate, kidney, brain, and thyroid and for malignant lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

20. Occupational exposure of strong inorganic acid mists containing sulphuric acid: The IARC concluded that there is sufficient evidence for the carcinogenicity to humans of occupational exposure to strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid, which can cause lung, larynx and bladder cancer.